Match-safe.



No. 897,428. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908.

` I F. 0. SWENSON.

MATCH SAFE.

APPLIGATION FILED MA.16,19o8.

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FRANK OSCAR SWENSON, OF MANOR, TEXAS.

MATCH-SAFE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 198.

Application filed March 16, 1908. Serial No. 421,301.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK OSCAR SWEN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manor, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented anew and useful Match-Safe, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to match safes, and has for its object to provide a match safe by means of which a number of matches contained therein will be fed to the bottom of the safe one at a time, and there so located that but one match at a time can be withdrawn from the safe.

The invention has further for its object to provide a match safe in which but one match can be withdrawn at the time, and when withdrawn will be ignited by the act of withdrawing the same from the safe.

The invention consists in a match safe constructed and arranged as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, in which similar numerals represent like parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a match safe constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line of Fig. 1.

1 indicates a match safe formed of metal or other suitable material, and in the shape of a hopper, whereby the matches contained therein will be fed downwards toward its bottom. As here shown the match safe 1 is formed with an inclined side 2 and a vertical side 3, but both sides may be inclined, if desired. The hopper 1 is formed with a narrow discharging portion 3 through which the matches automatically drop down, and are guided one at a time to the lower end of the match safe. One corner of the lower end of the match safe is formed with a cutaway portion 4 leavin@ a depending lower end 5 and providing a sot 6 at one end thereof which continues up and forms a portion of the opening in the lower end of the passage way 3. The bottom of the match safe at the depending portion 5 may be solid or closed, but as here shown consists of the two flexible ends of the sides 2 and 3 of the match safe, connected together by a pair of pins or threaded bolts 7 provided with nuts 8 by means of which the lower end portion 5 of the hopper can be adjusted to adapt the passageway between them to matches of different sizes.

When the match safe is filled with matches,

the lowest match 9, as shown in Fig. 1, rests on the pins or bolts 7 with its head portion farthest removed from the cut away portion 4, and its other end projecting slightly through the slot 6, so as to enable a person to seize it and draw it out of the safe. In order to rovide a means for lighting the match the wals of the passageway formed by the depending portions 5 are provided with roughened surfaces 10 of sand paper or other suitable material, and in drawing the match out of the safe, its head comes in contact with such roughened surfaces, and being rapidly drawn over the same, is ignited, so that when the match is withdrawn from the safe, it is blazing.

11 are openings in the sides of the safe by means of which if the matches get caught they may be moved by having access to them through said opening.

In Fig. 1 the match safe is shown as detached from any support. Any suitablefsupport may be provi ed on which the match safe is mounted, as, for instance, as shown in Fig. 2, where it is mounted on uprights 12 secured to a base 13.

It will be noted by referring particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings that the slot 6 not only extends the full length of the bottom of the hopper but also extends a short distance up the side thereof farthest removed from the cut away corner of the hopper. By extending the supporting bolts 7 through the two spaced front and rear plates of the hopper these plates can be adjusted toward or from each other by means of the nuts upon the bolt so as to regulate the size of the contracted portion of the hopper to suit match stems of different diameters.

What is claimed is 1. A match safe comprising a hopper having a contracted lower portion provided with a passage way therein, the front and rear walls of said contracted portion being separated at their ends, and combined adjusting and match supporting means extending transversely between the separated portions of the walls.

2. A match safe comprising a hopper having a contracted portion provided with a match receiving passage way therethrough, opposite walls of said contracted portion being separated at their lower ends, and means carried by said ends for adjusting them toward or from each other to regulate the transverse area of the passage way', said means constituting match safe supporting devices.

3. A match safe comprising a hop er having a lower contracted portion provi ed with a passage way for the reception of matches, the lower portions of opposite walls of said contracted portion being separated, one corner of said contracted portion being also cut away to expose a match within the passage way, and means for supporting a match in exposed position, said means constituting means for adjusting the separated walls toward or from each other.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as 15 my own, I have hereto aBXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK OSCAR SWENSON.

Witnessesf GEORGE S. DOWELL, SIM D. WARNER. 

